Jeff and Sonia McGarrity already had two sons, and when they found out their third son was diagnosed with Down syndrome, they never imagined just how much this baby would change their lives.
In fact, having a biological son with Down syndrome cultivated a love in their hearts for children with special needs – and they chose to adopt three more children with Down syndrome!
And now eight children later, their precious family is thriving, and just wait until you hear their story.
Children with Down syndrome have beautiful hearts with so much love to give.
Sadly, not everyone realizes this. In many countries (even in the U.S.), mothers will automatically abort their babies if it is known they will be born with an intellectual disability.
But not the McGarritys!
Once they learned that so many babies with Down syndrome were being aborted, they knew they had to do something.
So, they stepped up to Jesus’ call to care for the orphans and specifically chose to adopt children with Down syndrome.
And now after raising eight children – four of them having Down syndrome – they want to share the joys of adopting children with special needs.
The Catholic Telegraph reported:
“Nobody understands what these beautiful souls, with their unconditional love and acceptance of every single person they meet, can do,” Sonia shared.
“It’s about opening your heart to say ‘God, I want to love as much as you will give me love. We are surrounded by love and opportunities to love.”
Amen!
It’s when we are first filled with God’s love that we can then pass that love onto others.
When challenges or special callings come before us, we sometimes doubt our ability to handle tough situations.
But that’s the beauty of Christ – He tells us that with His strength He will equip us for what He has called us to.
We’re never meant to handle life in our own strength.
It’s only when we remain in Christ and remember He is the vine and we are the branches that we can bear spiritual fruit.
The McGarritys admit at first they didn’t think they could handle adopting another child with Down syndrome, especially since Sonia was 50.
But she prayed about it and asked God to make it clear if this was His will.
The Catholic Telegraph continued:
“We didn’t think we could handle it, but obviously we can because she’s ours,” McGarrity said with a laugh.
“There is this beautiful thing that happens when you meet your [adopted] child where you are like, ‘Oh, yeah, she’s mine.’ God knows who your children are going to be and he picks you specifically to parent them.”
What a beautiful testimony!
Praise God these sweet children are growing up in a loving home with parents who chose them.
May more of us rise to the occasion and care for the orphans, adopting them into our homes.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” – John 3:16-17
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